Prime Minister Mark Rutte's center-right party is celebrating a resounding win over populist Wilders' Party for Freedom, in a result that's being welcomed by centrists and progressives.

(Image credit: Peter Dejong/AP)

]]>Bill ChappellYes, There Is A Voting Booth In This Dutch Family's Living RoomIn an arrangement that goes back to 1948, the Westhoffs' farm house has hosted voters in their small community of fewer than 100 people.Wed, 15 Mar 2017 14:24:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/15/520279027/yes-there-is-a-voting-booth-in-this-dutch-familys-living-room?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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In an arrangement that goes back to 1948, the Westhoffs' farm house has hosted voters in their small community of fewer than 100 people.

(Image credit: Muhammed Muheisen/AP)

]]>Bill ChappellDutch Election Is Underway, In Latest Test Of Populist NationalismHigh voter turnout was reported by local media in the first hours of voting, with 33 percent of voters hitting the polls by 1:45 p.m. local time.Wed, 15 Mar 2017 09:51:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/15/520246151/dutch-election-is-under-way-in-latest-test-of-populist-nationalism?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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High voter turnout was reported by local media in the first hours of voting, with 33 percent of voters hitting the polls by 1:45 p.m. local time.

(Image credit: Peter Dejong/AP)

]]>Bill ChappellDutch Far-Right Leader Tweets Fake Image Showing Rival With IslamistsGeert Wilders posted a photo that he said showed a liberal leader "demonstrating with terrorists" — but the image was a phony. After his political rival objected, Wilders called him a "drama queen."Wed, 08 Feb 2017 17:52:00 -0500http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/08/514167929/dutch-far-right-leader-tweets-fake-image-showing-rival-with-islamists?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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Geert Wilders posted a photo that he said showed a liberal leader "demonstrating with terrorists" — but the image was a phony. After his political rival objected, Wilders called him a "drama queen."

(Image credit: Roberto Pfeil/AFP/Getty Images)

]]>Camila Domonoske2 Stolen Van Goghs Recovered By Anti-Mafia Police In ItalyThe two paintings — of a seascape and of a congregation at a church<em> — </em>were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2002. "They are the real paintings!" a curator said in a statement.Fri, 30 Sep 2016 08:55:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/30/496045362/2-stolen-van-goghs-recovered-by-anti-mafia-police-in-italy?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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The two paintings — of a seascape and of a congregation at a church — were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in 2002. "They are the real paintings!" a curator said in a statement.

(Image credit: Van Gogh Museum)

]]>Camila DomonoskeIn A Dutch City, A Syrian Couple Settles In And Is Reminded Of HomeA Syrian husband and wife wait in a prison turned shelter while their bid for asylum is processed. Wife Lena says she's ready to start all over in the Netherlands, "just like a baby."Tue, 02 Feb 2016 17:43:00 -0500http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/02/02/465297538/in-a-dutch-city-a-syrian-couple-settles-in-and-is-reminded-of-home?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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A Syrian husband and wife wait in a prison turned shelter while their bid for asylum is processed. Wife Lena says she's ready to start all over in the Netherlands, "just like a baby."

(Image credit: Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/AFP/Getty Images)

]]>Eleanor BeardsleyAn Owl Is Attacking And Injuring Residents Of A Netherlands TownDrones aren't the only airborne worry in Europe this week. An aggressive owl is terrorizing the Dutch town of Purmerend. Hormones, perhaps? Or maybe it's just hungry.Wed, 25 Feb 2015 16:59:00 -0500http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/02/25/389035027/an-owl-is-attacking-and-injuring-residents-of-a-netherlands-town?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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Drones aren't the only airborne worry in Europe this week. An aggressive owl is terrorizing the Dutch town of Purmerend. Hormones, perhaps? Or maybe it's just hungry.

(Image credit: Sebastien Bozon/AFP/Getty Images)

]]>Hannah BlochAustralia Sending 190 Police To Secure MH17 WreckageThe Netherlands, which lost 193 of its citizens in the shoot-down of the Malaysia Airlines flight, is also negotiating to send 40 unarmed police to the site in eastern Ukraine.Fri, 25 Jul 2014 09:01:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/07/25/335189945/australia-sending-190-police-to-secure-mh17-wreckage?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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The Netherlands, which lost 193 of its citizens in the shoot-down of the Malaysia Airlines flight, is also negotiating to send 40 unarmed police to the site in eastern Ukraine.

(Image credit: Rob Griffith/AP)

]]>Scott NeumanDutch Premier Decries 'Utterly Disrespectful Behavior' At MH17 Crash SitePrime Minister Mark Rutte said he had a "very intense" conversation with Vladimir Putin about the Russian leader using his influence with Moscow-backed rebels to secure access to the scene.Sat, 19 Jul 2014 13:13:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/07/19/332885478/dutch-premier-decries-utterly-disrespectful-behavior-at-mh17-crash-site?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he had a "very intense" conversation with Vladimir Putin about the Russian leader using his influence with Moscow-backed rebels to secure access to the scene.

(Image credit: Bart Maat/EPA/Landov)

]]>Scott NeumanWhat If The World Cup Were Awarded For Saving Trees And Drinking Soda?We thought you'd get a kick out of seeing how the four teams in the final World Cup matches stack up in global health and development.Sat, 12 Jul 2014 05:38:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2014/07/11/330745146/what-if-the-world-cup-were-awarded-for-saving-trees-and-drinking-soda?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2014/07/11/330745146/what-if-the-world-cup-were-awarded-for-saving-trees-and-drinking-soda?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlandsWe thought you'd get a kick out of seeing how the four teams in the final World Cup matches stack up in global health and development.

Luminescent paint absorbs energy during the daylight hours and then glows green in the dark. If widely adopted, the inventor envisions an energy-saving smart highway.

(Image credit: Remko De Waal/EPA/Landov)

]]>Scott NeumanOrange Is Everywhere As Netherlands Welcomes A New KingFollowing recent tradition, Queen Beatrix chose to abdicate in order to pass the crown to a new generation. Her son, Willem-Alexander, becomes the first Dutch king since 1890.Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:50:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2013/04/30/180013890/orange-is-everywhere-as-dutch-welcome-new-king?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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Following recent tradition, Queen Beatrix chose to abdicate in order to pass the crown to a new generation. Her son, Willem-Alexander, becomes the first Dutch king since 1890.

What do salt, ancient Jewish pickle carts, the sometimes brutal Indonesian spice trade and Vincent Van Gogh have in common? They brought life to Dutch cuisine, specifically, the Dutch pickle.

(Image credit: albertstraub/Flickr.com)

]]>Jennifer Burns LevinDude, It's The Cars: Parking Problems May Kill Pot Tourism In The NetherlandsLawmakers' plans to stop foreigners from coming there to smoke marijuana and hashish are inspired in large part by the traffic problems that demand has created. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:25:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/04/03/149927839/dude-its-the-cars-parking-problems-may-kill-pot-tourism-in-the-netherlands?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
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Lawmakers' plans to stop foreigners from coming there to smoke marijuana and hashish are inspired in large part by the traffic problems that demand has created.

(Image credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

]]>Mark MemmottDutch Release Two Men Detained On Terror SuspicionsDutch officials released two men detained on terror suspicions, concluding they were unfounded.Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:07:00 -0400http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/09/01/129588289/dutch-release-two-men-detained-on-terror-suspicions?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlands
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2010/09/01/129588289/dutch-release-two-men-detained-on-terror-suspicions?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thenetherlandsDutch officials released two men detained on terror suspicions, concluding they were unfounded.